The NHS trust that operates Kent's ambulances has been given a warning notice by health regulators, The Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) was subjected to a full inspection by the CQC in May and has now been told it must make significant improvements.

The report comes less than a month after the service apologised for delays in reaching patients as it struggled to cope with a high volume of calls.

One area where improvements are needed is the way NHS 111 calls are dealt with.

The trust has been told to improve operational performance, including increasing the number of staff deployed to provide patient care; implement a new asset register for clinical equipment; and ensure medicines practice are understood and operated appropriately by staff.

It must also look to establish a new patient safety and quality director role to bring together all aspects of patient safety, safeguarding and patient experience to ensure joined patient safety reporting mechanisms and clear identification and communication of learning.

Finally, the trust needs to employ more staff to in NHS 111 to make the service run more efficiently.

The trust now has until September to address the immediate concerns highlighted by the CQC before a full report is published later in the year.

Last month a union boss demanded SECAmb was subject to a government inquiry following more damning allegations about the service.

SECAmb said it has already started to address the issues highlighted by the CQC.

Geraint Davies, acting chief executive of SECAmb, said: "The trust is sorry for not providing the service that the communities we serve should expect and deserve.

"Along with the rest of the trust’s executive team, our priority now is to focus on addressing the issues the CQC has highlighted.

"We know there is a lot the trust needs to do to improve compliance with a number of systems and processes to ensure the safety of our patients.

"Following the inspection, we have been working hard to address the issues raised and will continue to do so over the coming months. My aim is to restore public confidence and faith in our service."

Sir Peter Dixon, SECAmb’s interim chairman, said: "There have been some serious failings, which we will need to address quickly.

"When the full CQC report is published, we will ensure the public are provided with an update on the progress made."